Chelmsford preview: Attain the ace in the pack
Published:
David Metcalf | January 6, 2016
Attain was a big eye-catcher last time out, and can take advantage of a handy mark to land the 1m 2f handicap that opens proceedings on today’s card at Chelmsford (12.30).
The Julia Feilden trained seven-year-old is a three-time winner on the all-weather, and was last successful at Lingfield seven months ago when scoring gamely by a head off a mark of 64.
It’s fair to say that Attain’s form has been very hit and miss since then, but the gelding hinted that he was on his way back when a fine third of 10 to Power Up over course and distance last month.
After racing in touch travelling strongly, Attain was making good headway when denied a clear run a furlong from home and found himself short of room with nowhere to go.
It left the son of Dansili with a hopeless task, but when Attain did eventually see daylight he ran on strongly to be gaining at the finish and be beaten 3 1/4 lengths.
To me, Attain finished with running left in him, and in the circumstances it was a fine effort given how the race panned out.
Attain is able to race in this off an unchanged mark of 60, 4lb lower than when last successful, and that gives him major claims of gaining compensation and getting back on the winning trail.
Borough Boy worth a bet
In the 5f handicap (13.00), Borough Boy looks to have plenty going for him.
The Derek Shaw trained gelding scored three times last year, including twice over course and distance, and posted a cracking effort eight days ago at Southwell when second of 10 to Cross Fire.
Borough Boy finished strongly to go down by just a neck, and the winner has since come out and bolted up by three lengths off a mark of 73.
That gives the form a solid look and makes Borough Boy, who was giving Cross Fire 2lb, look well-treated off an unchanged rating of 69.
Indeed, the six-year-old is due to race off 3lb higher in future assignments so it’s now surprise to see connections turn him out quickly before the revised rating kicks-in.
Another plus is that Borough Boy is well suited by a strong pace, and the son of Jeremy looks sure to get that with the likes of the trailblazing Bosham and Powerful Wind in the line-up.
Selections
12.30: Attain (NAP)
13.00: Borough Boy (NB)
13.30: Dark Side Princess
14.00: Loyalty
14.30: Nezwaah
15.00: Tasaaboq
15.30: Megara
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